Door latch



Feb. 9, 1943.

J. H. ROETHEL 7 DOOR LATCH Filed Jan. 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l FILM! i2 .5 a??? INVENTOR BY Foeiiel M COLM.

Feb. 9, 1943. J. H. ROETHEL DOOR LATCH Filed Jan. 22, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR J51; /7f Foeiiel.

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Feb. 9, 1943. J. H. ROETHEL DOOR LATCH Filed Jan. 22, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet 3 11V VEN TOR 6 AT ORNE Patented Feb. 9, 1943 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE DOOR LATCH John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich.

Application January 22, 1940, Serial No. 314,991

15 Claims. (Cl. 292-340) This invention relates generally to doorlatches and particularly, although not exclusively, to latch devicesadapted for use in connection with the doors of automobiles and othervehicles. The invention contemplates the provision of an improved deviceof this class including lock mechanism adapted to be installed upon theswinging door of the automobile or vehicle body, an improved striker orkeeper mechanism cooperable with the latch bolt and adapted to beinstalled on the body post or pillar, and improved means associated withthe latch bolt and striker or keeper mechanism for holding the doorfirmly in position against transverse and vertical movements duringoperation of the vehicle. An object of the invention is to provide animproved device of the above class or type which is relatively simpleand compact in construction, economical to manufacture, durable andemcient in use and which in operation is also capable of providing aneasy, relatively quiet, and positive closing door, a particularlyimportant objective in connection with the steel doors of automobiles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved latch boltand striker or keeper device which in efficient and simpl mannercombines the functions heretofore accomplished in separate striker orkeeper device and dovetail units and which in addition permitssimplification of the latch bolt mechanism mounted upon the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved striker unitadapted to be mounted upon the body pillar or post and having a springpressed striker member adapted normally to extend downwardly into thepath of a longitudinally extending normally non-retractible latch boltand adapted to be depressed or forced upwardly by the bolt, when thedoor is closed, thereby permitting the bolt to pass the striker andengage an inclined or tapered face thereof, firm and tight engagement ofthe bolt with the final locking step of the striker member being ensuredunder all conditions by means of yielding wedging means whereby the dooris held rigidly against chattering or vibratory motion during operationof the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved latch boltand striker device embodying a normally non-retractible latch bolt, avertically movable striker member adapted to project downwardly into thetransverse path of movement of the bolt, and yieldable wedge meansassociated therewith and cooperable with the latch bolt and strikermember to hold the door against vertical and transverse movements duringoperation of the vehicle, the improved construction being such as toprovide a simple, compact and inexpensive mechanism producing an easyand quiet closing door which will be held firmly and positively underoperating conditions of the vehicle.

A further object is to provide means associated with a latch bolt of thetype which is non-retractible by engagement with the striker, whichmeans will either prevent the bolt from being locked or dogged, when thedoor is open, against retraction by turning. the door handle or willkick out the bolt dogging device when the door is closed and the boltengages the striker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a striker assembly adaptedto be mounted upon the door post or pillar and embodying a movablestriker member, such as a vertically slidable striker member, mounted toextend generally vertically into the path of a normally stationarylongitudinally extending latch bolt and in which the striker memberincludes in one unit successive safety and final locking portions orsteps adapted to be engaged by the latch bolt, the latter beingretractible only when opening the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a striker assembly inwhich the striker member includes a safety locking step and a finallocking step successively engaged by the bolt, the safety locking stepbeing shifted by the bolt relatively to the final locking step and thestriker member being shifted as a unit upon engagement of the bolt withthe final locking step as the door is closed.

Still a further object'is to provide an assembly or device of theforegoing character in which the door may be closed without slammingand. with a minimum of effort and quietness, making it unnecessary tocause the bolt to retract when closing the door and permitting the doorto be readily opened by turning the handle to retract the boltsufficiently to clear the striker member or members, thereby permittingthe end of the latch bolt to pass thereby as the door is pulled open.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended ,claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of an automobilebody in which the present invention is incorporated in connection withthe doors thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially through lines2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 2a is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating aslight modification in the striker member.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially through lines 3-3 of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially through lines 4-4 of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially through lines 8-8 of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and in part similar toFig. 2, illustrating aother embodiment of striker member.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially through lines I-I ofFig. 3 looking iirthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is an exploded view, in perspective, i1

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary outer end elevation of the structure shown inFig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a section taken substantially through lines l4l4 of Fig. 12looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 12 but illustrating thekick-out or throw-out position of the split latch bolt.

Fig. 16 is a section taken through lines lG-IS of Fig. 12 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Before explaining in .detail the present invention it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Alsoit is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and itis not intended to limitthe invention claimed herein beyond therequirements of the prior art.

In the drawings there are illustrated, by way of example, severalembodiments of the present invention as applied to an automobile body Bhaving swinging doors D hinged at their remote edges so as to swingtogether against a common body post or pillar B, the mechanism of thepresent invention comprising a latch bolt device mounted upon the doorand a striker or keeper device mounted upon the body pillar or post atthe jamb face of thedoor opening.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 to 5. inclusive, the striker or keeperdevice, which is mounted upon the fixed body pillar or post, comprises abacking plate 20 oflset centrally to extend through an opening in thepillar jamb 2|, the oflset portion providing upper and lower walls 20aand 20b, respectively, and the backing plate having upper and lowerattaching flanges 20c lying against the outer face of the pillar iamb2!. The striker device also comprises outer upper and lower face plateportions 22 and 23 which are spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 2, for thepassage therebetween of the latch bolt and wedge or guide memberextending from the edge of the swinging door. The face plate portions 22and 23 have countersunk holes 22a and 23a for the reception of fasteningscrews 24.

Within the upper casing formed by the members 22 and 20 is a compoundstriker or keeper member 25 which is slidingly mounted within thecasing. The striker member is provided with curved or arcuate inner andouter upright edges 28a and 25b which engage and slide uponcorrespondingly curved walls 28 and 21 formed from the-backing plate'20.Thus, the striker member may slide up and down within the casing in acurved path corresponding to the curvatureof the casing walls 23 and 21.The striker member has a hole or recess 29 within which 'is lodged thelower end of a compression spring 23 anchored at its upper end on thecasing, the spring functioning to urge the striker member to its lowerposition as shown in Fig. 2. Vertical movement of the striker memberis-limited by means of a tongue 30 struck in from the backing plate andcarrying upper and lower rubber bumpers 3i slidable within a recess 32in the back wall of the striker member.

The striker member 25 is adapted to project downwardly below the wall 22and is formed with a projecting wedge shaped step 33 which normallyextends into the path of the latch bolt. The locking step 33 has atapered or inclined edge 33a facing outwardly and also having an innertapered edge or face 34. In the device of Fig. 2 the edge 34 terminatesin a shoulder 38, whereas in Fig. 2a the shoulder is omitted and thestriker step relieved at 34a at this locality. The bolt 38 is adapted,as the door is closed, to engage the edge or face 33a and elevate thestriker member against the effort of the spring 28, and when the boltpasses the step 33 'it's'i clined face 38a'flrmly and smoothlyengagesthe correspondingly inclined face 34 of the locking step: When the boltis fully home the striker member will be extended to bear against thefull length of the inclined bolt face 360.

and in-the present embodiment is independently yieldable or retractiblerelatively thereto. The safety step 38 is in the form of a plunger setat an angle with respect to the body of the striker member andpresenting outer and inner inclined faces 38a and 38b, respectively,forming a wedge extending normally into the path of the latch bolt 36.The plunger 38 extends upwardly through a hole 31 which terminateswithin the body of the striker member and opens through the bottom face33a thereof. Rubber bumpers 39 are secured to opposite faces of theplunger 38 by a cross pin 40, the bumpers extending laterally into slots4| which communicate with the hole 31. A compression spring 42 engagesthe inner or upper end of the plunger and is gorflned within acounter-bore 43 in the striker The bottom casing formed between members23 and 20 partially houses a wedge shaped slide block 44 which has alimited sliding movement upon the bottom inclined wall 20b of thiscasing. I'he'rear end of the block has a hole or bore 48 within which ismounted a compression spring 46 which is interposed between the blockand the back wall of the casing. The block is held within the casing andlimited as to its outward movement through the medium of a tongue orflange 41 on the casing which extends into a notch or recess 49 in theblock. The upper wall 44b of the wedge block is exposed for engagementby a wedge member 49 secured to the edge of the door at a point belowbut outwardly of the bolt 96. The dovetail wedge 49 has an inclinedlower face 49a which rides upon the upper inclined face 44b of the slideblock, and as the door is closed the wedge member 49 will, as it passesinto the space between the upper and lower casings, force the block 44inwardly against the action of the spring 49, thus tending to lift thedoor and through the cooperative action of the bolt 36 against the face34 of the striker step 93 clamping the door rigidly between the block 44and the striker member 25. Since the block 44 is continuously urgedoutwardly by its spring 46, thereby tending to raise the wedge member49, any play between the bolt and striker face 34 when the latter isforced home to its lowermost position will be taken up by outwardmovement of wedge 44. Thus, any play between the bolt and striker whichwill cause rattling or chattering when the door vibrates vertically willimmediately be taken up and the door held tightly against verticalmovement by the wedge 44 moving outwardly under the influence of thespring.

In Figs. '7 and 8 there is shown a mounting means by which the strikerassembly may be adjusted transversely or horizontally with respect toits supporting post or pillar B. The metal of the jamb 2i of the pillaris pressed or stamped to provide a loop or strap-like retainer portion50 through which may be slide an adjusting bar having a fluted grippingface 52 engageable with the inner face of the pillar and also havingholes 53 adapted to line up with adjusting slots 54 in the pillar.screws 24 for the striker assembly extend through the slots 54 and thetapped holes 53 in the adjusting bar, and by loosening the screws thestriker assembly may be shifted bodily in conjunction with the bar 5| adistance equal to the distance that the screws 24 are adjustable in theslots 54. In Fig. 8 a center pillar B of an automobile body is shown inwhich a striker assembly is adapted to be mounted at opposite faces ofthe pillar for the front and rear doors.

Referring to Fig. 6, there is shown a second embodiment of the strikeror keeper device which comprises a backing plate 200 having an uppercasing 56 secured thereto and housing a compound striker member 55 Whichis mounted for sliding movement at an oblique angle'against the innerangular wall 56a of the casing. The striker block 55 is provided with athrough slot 51 and a groove or blind slot 58 forming a continuation ofslot 51 only at the back side of the block. Guide pins or studs 59 and66 extend into the slots and are secured to the backing plate. The pin59 extends the full depth of the slot 51 whereas the pin 60 extendspartially into the slot 51 so as to ride into the shallow extension 58thereof. In the lowermost position of the striker 55 the pin 59 isadapted to engage a rubber bumper 51a. The striker member is urged ormoved to its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 6, by a compressionspring 6| extending into a hole 62 in the striker member and engagingthe upper wall of the casing The striker 56 has a flnal locking step 55aand a safety locking step "b projecting downwardly into the path of thebolt 36, there being a clearance space 550 between the steps whichprevents engagement of this portion of the striker memher with the upperend of the bolt. The steps The attaching 95a and b have inclined ortapered locking faces which are parallel to the face 39a of the bolt sothat the bolt will engage a considerable area of the locking step whenin either safety or flnal locking position. The embodiment of Fig. 6includes the yieldable wedging means 44, 49 as shown in Fig. 2.

If desired, in order to ensure smooth action of the block 66 and toavoid any cramping action when the bolt engages inclined face 690 toelevate the block, the spring 6| may be centered, or approximately so,with respect to the block anda guide pin similar to pin 69 andcooperating slot, similar to slot 51, provided at the opposite side ofthe spring. The block in such instance would be guided at three points.

Referring particularly to Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, the latch boltdevice C in this instance comprises a case plate 93 terminating at itsouter edge in a lateral flange 63:: having an opening through whichslidingly extends the bolt 98, the dovetail wedge member 49 beingsecured by screws to the flange 63a at a point just below and outwardlyof the bolt 36. The case plate 63 has suitable screw bosses by which itmay be secured by screws to the inner lock panel of the door. The rearend of the bolt 38 is engaged by one end of a spiral return spring 64,the opposite end of the spring being secured to the case plate. Rivetedto the inner end of the bolt is a slide plate 65 having a horizontalguide slot 6511 through which extends a guide stud 66 riveted to thecase plate. The latch device of Fig. 9 is designed for the front door ofan automobile body and also so that it may be locked with a key from theoutside of the door. The bolt is remotely controlled from the inner sideof the door through the medium of,a link 61 having a. lost motion slot68 through which extends a stud 69 secured to the inner side of theslide 65. The end of the remote control link 61 is connected to theinner door handle 10 in the usual manner. The outer door handle 1| hasits shaft entered within a square opening He in the hub of a roll back12 which engages a turned flange on the slide plate 65 so that byturning the outer handle 1i the roll back is partially rotated toretract the latch bolt independently of the inner door handle 10. Thelatter also may be turned to retract the slide 65 and the latch bolt 36against the action of the return spring 64.

The latch C has incorporated therein a conventional type unit 13 bywhich the roll back may be dogged or locked against rotation by keycontrolled means. Whenthe key is turned in the look from the outside ofthe door it will raise a dog 14 into abutting engagement with a lug 12aon the roll back, thus preventing the bolt from being retracted byturning the outer door handle 1i.

The belt 36 may be locked against retraction through operation of eitherof the handles by means of a push and pull device at the inner side ofthe door. This device comprises a plunger 15 having a knob at its upperend, the plunger extending through a hole in the gamish molding andpivotally connected at its lower end to a slide 16. This slide has aguide slot 11 for a stud 18 riveted to the case plate 63, and also asimilar guide slot 11a for the stud 66. The slide 16 at its lower endterminates in a dogging device ll adapted to be forced downwardly bydown on the plunger ll into position to abut a flange portion II on thebolt slide plate ll, thus prevgiting the latter from being shifted toretract the it.

In the present instance there is provided kicker means associated withthe bolt and controlled by the striker i' or kicking out or shiftingupwardly the dogging device II so as to move it out of locking positionwith respect to the slide OI.

The latch bolt, in the form herein shown, is constructed as a split boltcomprising the main portion a and a vertically movable portion II havingfiat contacting faces as shown in Fig. 10. The bolt portion tiextendsrearwardly of the portion SI and terminates in an upper endextension I la underlying a projecting flange or 1118 ll on the slide18. The bolt member II also has a lower rear end extension ll engaged bythe upper outer end of a spiral spring l2 secured at its inner end tothe case plate. The outer. working end of this spring has verticallyspaced retainer grooves or notches "a and lib within which the roundedend of the extension it will fit and be yieldingly held by the springwhich at all times exerts pressure thereagainst. It will be understoodthat member ll extends through a slot communicating with the slot in thecase plate through which bolt It extends. The main bolt portion 30 has astud ll upon which the bolt portion ll is pivoted. It will be seen thatthe bolt kicker member ll may be rocked about its pivot It, as shown inFig. 11, thereby raising its end "a against the lug l4 and shifting theslide 18 upwardly so that the dogging portion 19 will be shifted out ofthe path of the portion 80 of the lock bolt slide 05.

' In this operation the extension or finger 83 will be forced out ofnotch Ila and will snap into notch 82b, whereby the kicker II will beyieldingly held by the spring in the position of Fig. 11 with the outerend of the kicker flush with the end of the bolt 3'. Thus, when the dooris closed with the kicker ll in the position of Fla. 9 and the dog I! inbolt locking position. engagement of the bolt with the striker memberwill cause the latter to depress the outer end of the bolt kicker memberII to the positionshown in Fig. 11, thus forcing the slide ll out oflocking position with respect to the latch bolt slide 65. The kickermember will at all times remain in this position except when the slideIt is pushed down. If the door is in closed position and the slide 18pushed down, see Fig. 9 and Fig. 2a, the relieved portion 34a of thestriker step 83 will permit the outer end of the kicker to be elevated,as the kicker is rocked, and permit the finger 83 to be forced fromnotch 82b of the spring to notch 8211.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 12 to 16, inclusive, the latchbolt mechanism is substantially the same as the construction in Figs. 9to 12, inclusive, with the exception principally that the latch boltkicker member is vertically slidable instead of pivoted, the arrangementin this instance being such that the dogging slide 16 will at all timesbe shifted to inoperative position at any time that the door is open. Inthis embodiment the kicker member 86, which forms a portion of the slidelatch bolt and normally extends face to face and flush with the mainbolt member 36, is provided with two vertically extending guide slots 81for the reception of pins or studs 88 carried by the bolt member 36.

Thus, the member It is mounted upon the bolt member 08 for limitedvertical sliding movement. The member I in rear of the bolt has anoffset 00 and an end extension 90 in line with the bolt 88 whichunderlies the lug 84 on the dogging slide II. The kicker slide 88 isnormally urged to the position shown in Fig. 15 by means of the lightspiral spring I! which is 'mounted concentrically with the main springI4 and secured to the same struck-out portion of plate 3, there being aspacer disk 93 between the two springs, see Fig. 16. From the foregoingit will be seen that, when the door is open and the latch bolt out ofengagement with the striker, the kicker slide 86 will be held in itsraised position shown in Fig. 15 by the spring 82, the effort 4 of thespring being suiilcient to force the dogging slide 16 upwardly to itsinoperative position. When, however, the door is closed, engagement ofthe latch bolt portions 36 and 88 with the striker member will force themember 88 down to its flush position with bolt member 36 as shown inFig. 2, also Figs. 12 and 13. In the fully closed position of the doorthe shoulder 35 on the striker step 33 will overhang the bolt kickermember '6 and hold it out of action with respect to the dogging slide16, thus permitting the latter to be pushed down to the locking positionshown in Fig. 12. It will be understood that the bolt kicker member 86operates within a slot Si in the case plate flange 63a, as shown in Fig.13.

With the use of a door latch having the pivoted kicker or throw-outmember 8| of Fig. 9, it will be seen that closing of the door will causethe striker to rock the member 8| and throw out or kick out the doggingslide [6, assuming the latter has been pushed down. When the door isfully closed the kicker member 8| remains in kick-out position (Fig. 11)by reason of the spring notch 82!) holding the finger 83. Thus, thisconstruction precludes the possibility of closing the door from theoutside and leaving the dogging slide 16 in locked position. Theconstruction in Fig. 12 attains a similar result, also precluding thepossibility of closing the door from the outside with the slide 16 inlocked position. In this embodiment, however, the slide is always in itsup or inoperative position whenever the door is open and the latch boltout of contact with the striker.

I claim:

1. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and inassociation with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a framestructure, comprising a casing, a striker member slidable on the casingin an up and down curvilinear path, and yieldable bolt latching stepcarried by said member and normally projecting into the path of thebolt.

2. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt mountedupon a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprisinga pair of striker members normally projecting downwardly into the pathof the bolt, one member being yieldingly slidable upon the other and thelatter being yieldingly slidable in an up and down path angular withrespect to the plane of the door.

3. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt mountedupon a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprisinga striker member having a bolt latching step normally projecting intothe path of the bolt. means for guiding said member for up and downsliding movement angularly with respect to the plane of the door, springmeans urging said member toward the bolt, wedge means on the framestructure movable in the direction of closing of the door under theinfluence of a projecting guide member on the door, and spring meansurging said wedge means in the opposite direction to tighten the boltagainst the striker member.

4. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and inassociation with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a framestructure, comprising a casing, and a striker member slidable on thecasing in an up and down curvilinear path and having a bolt latchingstep, and a. second bolt latching step slidable independently in saidmember.

5. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and inassociation with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a framestructure, comprising a casing, a striker member slidable on the casingin an up and down curvilinear path, a yieldable bolt latching stepcarried by said member and normally projecting into the path of thebolt, and means for tightening the bolt against said striker membersubstantially independently of said step.

6. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and inassociation with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a framestructure, comprising a casing, a striker member slidable on the casingin an up and down curvilinear path and having a bolt latching step, asecond bolt latching step slidable independently in said member. andmeans for tightening the bolt against said first latching stepsubstantially independently of the second latching step.

'7. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt mountedupon a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprisingtwo bolt latching steps normally projecting into the path of the boltand spaced apart in the direction of closing of the door, means forsupporting said steps for bodily up and down curvilinear movementrelatively to the bolt,

spring means urging said steps toward the bolt, and means for tighteningthe bolt against one or said steps in the closed position of the door.

8. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and inassociation with a swinging door bin at one edge to a frame structure,comprising a casing, a member movable bodiLv on the casing in an up anddown curvilinear path, spring means resisting movement of the member inone direction, said member having two spaced bolt latching steps.

9. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and inassociation with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a framestructure, comprising a casing, a member movable bodily on the casing inan up and down curvilinear path, spring means resisting movement of themember in one direction, said member having two spaced bolt latchingsteps, one step being yieldable relatively to the other.

10. A striker or keeper device for use with a door latch bolt,comprising a member having a bolt latching step, means for supportingsaid member for bodily movement in an up and down curvilinear path, anda second bolt latching step movable relatively to the first step andmounted on said member.

11. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and inassociation with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a framestructure, comprising a casing, and a striker member slidable on thecasing in an up and down curvilinear path and having a bolt latchingstep normally projecting into the path of the bolt.

12. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and inassociation with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a framestructure, comprising a casing having spaced upwardly extendingsimilarly curved walls, and 'a spring pressed striker member havingsimilarly curved edges slidingly bearing upon said walls.

13. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt,comprising a casing, and a striker member slidable bodily on the casingin an up and down curvilinear path and having a bolt latching stepnormally projecting into position to engage the bolt.

14. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt,comprising a casing, a striker member slidable bodily on the casing inan up and down curvilinear path and having a bolt latching step normallyprojecting into position to engage the bolt, and yieldable means engagedby a member independently of the bolt for tightening the bolt againstsaid step.

15. A striker device for use in connection with a latch bolt and inassociation with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a framestructure, comprising a casing, a striker slidable on the casing in anup and down curvilinear path and including a bolt latching step normallyprojecting into the path of the bolt. and means for tightening the boltagainst said step when the door is closed.

JOHN H. ROE'I'HEL.

